Sample-Friendly CD Finalist for Billboard Award

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Press Release Source: Wired Magazine


Wired Magazine's Sample-Friendly CD Finalist for Billboard Award
Monday October 25, 3:16 pm ET  
Compilation CD with Creative Commons Licenses Nabs First Annual Billboard Digital Entertainment Award Nomination


SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The Billboard Digital Entertainment Awards have named The Wired CD: Rip. Sample. Mash. Share. a finalist in the "Best Use of Technology by a Music Label" category. The winners will be announced at the Billboard Digital Entertainment Awards Gala in Los Angeles on Friday, November 5.
The CD, produced and published by WIRED with its November issue (on newsstands tomorrow and at www.wired.com/wired), is the first major compilation of Creative Commons-licensed music (www.creativecommons.org/wired). These licenses permit fans to share and sample songs, and even to include them in new compositions, but prohibit advertising and other commercial uses. If traditional copyright keeps "all rights reserved," the Creative Commons copyright lets artists voluntarily declare "some rights reserved." The Wired CD features tracks from 16 top artists -- the Beastie Boys, David Byrne, Zap Mama, My Morning Jacket, Spoon, Gilberto Gil, Dan the Automator, Thievery Corporation, Le Tigre, Paul Westerberg, Chuck D, The Rapture, Cornelius, Danger Mouse & Jemini, DJ Dolores and Matmos.

"Technology and the Internet have forced the music industry to a make a choice between more-is-better copyright protection and tolerating piracy. The Wired CD represents a third way: a range of licensing options that reflects the modern-day relationship between artists and consumers," said Chris Anderson, Editor in Chief of Wired Magazine. "We believe that this CD is a signal to the industry that a middle-ground is possible."

"We were honored when WIRED decided to publish their CD under Creative Commons licenses," said Glenn Otis Brown, executive director of Creative Commons. "WIRED deserves great credit for having the boldness and vision to put Creative Commons' pro-artist, pro-business, pro-fan ideas into practice."

Other finalists in this category include Island Def Jam for The Andrew W.K. Phone Party Blog; Island Def Jam for LL Nation; and Warner Music Group for its Twista Promotion on Sprint Wireless. For more information, please visit www.digitalentertainmentawards.com/finalists.html